9. Military Wife (9) (1/2)
The time on the train was still very hard to endure, especially since the trains of this era were not as strictly managed as in later generations. The middle aisle was packed with people, and a big sister sitting on the ground diagonally opposite Lin Shiheng was holding a live chicken in her hand.
The various smells mixed together, making He Xuezhu, who was already uncomfortable with pregnancy, even more uncomfortable. She was pale and tried her best to hold back the retching. While she was enduring, a pair of hands suddenly gently leaned her head on her shoulder. He Xuezhu raised her eyes and met Lin Shiheng's caring eyes.
"Lean on me and sleep for a while, you should feel much better after a good sleep."
During this period of time, she was taught to write by her husband every day. He Xuezhu's most trusted person in her heart had long become him. At this moment, she relaxed and leaned her head on the man's shoulder beside her.
Lin Shiheng loved cleanliness very much. She could smell the soap fragrance at the tip of her nose at this moment. During this period of time, because of pregnancy, He Xuezhu's body has not been very comfortable, but her heart is a hundred times calmer than before.
In the past, she felt that they were just strangers who got a marriage certificate. After marriage, she lived more with her mother-in-law. In the past, she would secretly comfort herself in her heart that Shi Heng did not take her to the army because he was worried that her mother-in-law would be alone at home. In fact, he also loved her as a wife, otherwise he would not mail half of the allowance back every month.
She thought so, but in her heart, there was always a hint of inferiority and timidity.
She was afraid that Shi Heng, who was getting higher and higher, would suddenly find out how useless his wife was, and that she would end up being abandoned.
He Xuezhu was not afraid of hardship or being scolded, even if she was beaten, she just wanted to stay in this family.
Her husband's cold attitude and her mother-in-law's disdainful words made her tremble. She worked hard every day as soon as she opened her eyes, hoping to express that she was useful.
If she was really abandoned, He Xuezhu would have nowhere to go.
But now, leaning on her husband's broad shoulders, with the familiar soap scent at the tip of her nose, she closed her eyes, gently placed her hands on her slightly protruding belly, and a reassuring smile on the corner of her lips, she fell asleep in the noisy sound.
When He Xiaobao first got on the train, he was still a little fresh, but when he was surrounded by people and unpleasant odors, and his back and waist ached after sitting for several hours, and his stomach was growling with hunger, that little bit of freshness had long been forgotten.
Before He Xuezhu was not asleep, he could still brag to his sister and brother-in-law about how much he could win in a game of cards with his buddies in the village, but when He Xuezhu fell asleep, Lin Shiheng would not let him talk.
He wanted to go home, eat the food cooked by his mother, and sleep on his bed, which was warmed by his wife every time the sun came out.
He Xiaobao held it in for a few hours, and became more and more aggrieved. He couldn't help but speak: "Brother-in-law..."
"Shh."
The handsome man in military uniform, who kept his back straight even after sitting for a few hours, quickly responded, "Keep your voice down, don't disturb your sister."
If you want to disturb her, then disturb her!
Didn't my mother say that the sisters are all girls and have to support him, the younger brother.
He Xiaobao was full of complaints in his heart. Seeing his capable brother-in-law carefully protecting his third sister, he didn't dare to ignore He Xuezhu's feelings like he did at home. He could only lower his voice and said in a wronged and soft voice: "Brother-in-law, I'm hungry."
"There's food in the bag."
Lin Shiheng freed one hand and threw the bag to He Xiaobao, "Take two steamed buns to eat."
He Xiaobao opened it and saw steamed buns. He was so hungry that his stomach growled. Just as he was about to take it out to eat, he suddenly saw two apples underneath, and his eyes lit up immediately.
Although he was loved, his family was still poor. He had only eaten good things like apples once in his life.
He didn't even bother to ask, he just took it out and was about to put it in his mouth, but before he could put it in, Lin Shiheng reached out and snatched it away.
He Xiaobao stared at him blankly with his mouth open: "Brother-in-law?"
Since they agreed to go to the army together, hasn't his brother-in-law taken special care of him?
"This is for your sister."
Lin Shiheng took the bag with one hand, put the apple back, and threw two steamed buns to He Xiaobao.
He Xiaobao was shocked while holding the steamed buns.
"Brother-in-law, how can you do this to me? I'm your brother! Apples are so good, why should they be given to my sister!"
His attitude was so natural, after all, from childhood to adulthood, his mother had instilled in him that girls should eat the worst or even nothing, and he, a boy, should eat the best.
"Xiaobao." Lin Shiheng put the bag on his knees, and his slender hands fell on the acupuncture points on his wife's head, massaging them gently to ensure that she would sleep more deeply. He looked into his wife's eyes and asked: "Did your brother-in-law give you the money to marry your wife?" He Xiaobao thought about it and nodded: "Yes." Although the first two brothers-in-law also gave, it was still the third brother-in-law who gave the most, otherwise his mother would not ignore the eldest brother-in-law and the second brother-in-law and go to the third brother-in-law's house every day. "Every time you come to my house, do I treat you well?" He Xiaobao laughed: "Brother-in-law, you are good to me, I know." Although Aunt Li glared at him, every time his brother-in-law came back, he could still get some benefits. Seeing his proud smile, Lin Shiheng continued to speak softly: "Then do you know why I treat you so well?"
He Xiaobao couldn't answer now. He murmured for a long time, and then cautiously asked: "Because we are destined to get along?"
Lin Shiheng smiled and shook his head, his voice still gentle, so soft that only the two of them could hear: "Xiaobao, look at you, you are such a big man, you are not brave and timid, and you have never worked in the fields."
"I play cards every day, and I have to take care of my wife who just gave birth to a child. I have no loyalty to my friends, no filial piety to your mother, and no care for my children. Although I am timid and do not cheat on others, I still have a bad reputation in the village. To be honest, I’m surprised you survived this long without being beaten to death.”
He Xiaobao stared blankly at the man in front of him who was smiling gently: "Sister, brother-in-law..."
Lin Shiheng smiled and freed up a hand, and like a good brother, he gently touched He Xiaobao's head: "I am good to you because you are Xuezhu's brother."
"Xiaobao, if your sister is happy, your brother-in-law will be happy."
"If your sister is unhappy, your brother-in-law will also make you unhappy."
His smile was still gentle, but He Xiaobao's face turned pale with fright. His brother-in-law who had always been kind to him suddenly became like this, which was enough to make him tremble slightly.
"I-I want to go home."
"I want to get off!"
Lin Shiheng withdrew his hand, first wiped his fingers on He Xiaobao's new clothes in disgust, and then returned to the head of He Xuezhu, who had fallen asleep due to the massage of his acupuncture points.
The handsome man said in a faint voice: "Xiaobao, you told your brother-in-law before that you and the two bastards in the village play cards every day, right? They also opened a small gambling room?"
"You said that if I reported it to the Public Security Bureau, I would tell them that you provided the clue..."
He Xiaobao's mind went blank.
Those two bastards are the dominant ones in the village. They will die. They will definitely die.
Even though He Xiaobao was running rampant at home, he relied on his mother's love and support. As Lin Shiheng said, he, He Xiaobao, was a coward who didn't dare to fight back even when scolded.
Facing the man who said such terrible words but whose smile did not change, He Xiaobao's eyes turned red.
"Brother-in-law, I was wrong..."
He gave in.
woo woo woo woo.
***
He Xuezhu slept very soundly, and even her stomach, which had been feeling vaguely uncomfortable, relaxed a lot. When she opened her eyes, she found that she was still leaning on her husband's shoulder, and she quickly straightened her waist.
"Shi Heng, how long have I been sleeping? Does your shoulder feel uncomfortable?"
"It's okay, this is nothing."
Lin Shiheng smiled and took out the apples and water from the bag and handed them to her, with gentle eyes: "Are you dry mouth? Can you drink some water?"
He Xuezhu took it, with a blush on her face because she had been sleeping soundly. She smiled and said to him: "I don't know if there are many people on this train. It's very hot."
"Sister, are you hot??"
He Xiaobao, who was sitting across from him, quickly picked up the book Lin Shiheng was looking at on the table and fanned it for He Xuezhu.
He Xuezhu looked at this younger brother with a look that could be called frightened: "...Xiaobao?"
It would be nice if he didn't let himself fan himself, but what happened, that he fanned his sister?
"Xiaobao, you've finished drinking the water, go and get some hot water." Lin Shiheng didn't look surprised at all on his face and handed the kettle over. Seeing his fat and white brother-in-law, he quickly agreed and squeezed out with the kettle in his arms. He turned his head to the surprised He Xuezhu and said, "What's wrong?"
He Xuezhu: "...Xiaobao, why is he so diligent?"
I even get water. When I was at home, I wanted to do everything in bed.
"When children grow up, they are like this."
Lin Shiheng gently hugged his wife's shoulders: "Don't you want Xiaobao to grow up soon?"
He Xuezhu still couldn't believe it. She leaned in her husband's arms and her voice sounded like a dream: "I'm not dreaming, am I?"
She had thought before that it would be great if Xiaobao could be sensible. Compared with her mother who always beat and scolded her, and her brother who once secretly stuffed her with food without telling her family when she was a child, He Xuezhu still had hopes.
But as He Xiaobao grows up, he may not even remember that time when he was a child.
The car stopped, people arriving at the station got off one after another, and then people got on the bus.
Lin Shiheng carefully protected his wife beside him. As the crowd surged, a figure sat down on He Xiaobao's seat.
He Xuezhu said quickly: "Sorry, this seat is occupied."
The man on the seat put down the things impatiently without raising his head: "Can't I buy it?"
"Deputy Zhang?"
Hearing the questioning voice on the other side, Zhang Yanming froze and raised his head in disbelief, just in time to meet Lin Shiheng's gaze, which was looking over with a slightly frowning eyebrow.
"Yanming, help me carry it..." Miao Xing's voice also came from behind. She walked through the crowd with difficulty holding two big bags, and wanted to hand them to Zhang Yanming who was sitting in her seat. She found that He looked over with shocked eyes, and when he saw Lin Shiheng, his expression froze.
At this moment, the two of them were covered in sweat because they almost missed the train. Looking at Lin Shiheng sitting opposite, he was dressed neatly in military uniform, and his handsome face was extremely refreshing.
Both Miao Xing, who still has some thoughts about Lin Shiheng, and Zhang Yanming, who loves face and considers himself a love rival, both look ugly.
Especially Zhang Yanming. He was originally looking forward to visiting Miao Xing's family. Unexpectedly, after he went there, he only saw two old men dressed in slovenly clothes who kept asking how much his salary was and a slutty man who met him immediately. The brother who wants money.
What's even more outrageous is that when the younger brother who looked nothing like Miao Xing gave him money to buy a ticket, he actually spent all the money. As a result, Zhang Yanming lost his ticket when he went to buy it again. , and when they were about to leave, the younger brother showed up and stopped them from leaving without paying them, which almost caused the two of them to delay the train.
The smell of sweat was enough to make Zhang Yanming angry, but at the most embarrassing moment, he actually met Lin Shiheng.
The man who always had a defiant face in the past had a gloomy expression and said nothing.
He Xuezhu didn't know about the grudges between the three of them and asked curiously: "Shi Heng, do you know each other?"
"In the army, Deputy Commander Zhang Yanming, and the one next to him is his wife."
Lin Shiheng didn't seem to notice Miao Xing's gaze at all. He turned his head and glanced at He Xuezhu gently before saying, "My wife, He Xuezhu, is going with me this time."
Before Zhang Yanming could speak, Miao Xing spoke first: "Hello."
She took a look at He Xuezhu and saw that although her appearance was delicate, her skin was a little yellow, her exposed hands were not as white as her own, and her abdomen even had a little belly. She immediately felt a sense of superiority in her heart.
But she is such a woman, how can anyone compare to her?
Just as he was thinking of this, a fat young man holding a kettle squeezed out from the crowd. When he arrived, he didn't care about anything else and put the kettle in front of He Xuezhu.
"Sister, drink some water. Is it still warm? I'll fan you."
Lin Shiheng saw Zhang Yanming looking at him and said, "Deputy Zhang, this is my wife's brother, He Xiaobao, the kid I am going to take to the army this time, you are sitting in his seat."
Looking at He Xiaobao, who was caring for his sister in every possible way, and thinking of brother Miao Xing's desperate look for money, Zhang Yanming's face became even darker.
I don’t know what kind of luck Lin Shiheng had to have such a sensible brother-in-law.
They are both younger brothers, why are there so many differences?